Collapsible umbrella-frame.



T. G. WARD.

COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED IuIII: I. IsIIs.

Patented July 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

dfI/ue/wbo/z Theodore G. Zl/ard @hbox/M4434) T. G. WARD.

COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1915.

l ,1 92,249. Patented July 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1l/Wmo Theodore G Zl/ard THEODORE G. WARD, OF PATTONSBURG, MISSOURI.

COLLAPSIBLE IVIBRELLA-FRAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

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Application filed .Tune 1, 1915. Serial No. 371,529.

To all whom L? may concern:

Be it known that I, Trrnonoun G. dilema, a citizen of the United States, residingV at Pattonsburg, in the county of Daviess and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Umbrella-F rames; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in umbrella and parasol frames and more particularly to those which may be collapsed to be readily carried from place to place.

The object of the invention is to improve upon the general construction of devices of this class to such an extent as to provide an article which although being extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive, will be highly eflicient and durable.

Vith this general object in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, one embodiment of the invention being illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein z-Figure 1 is a vertical section of a frame constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the same collapsed; Fig. 2 is a similar view with the frame extended, previously to extending the handle; Fig. 3 is yet another vertical section with all parts of the frame extended; Figs. 4 and` 5 are perspective views showing respectively the upper and lower sides of one of the ribs; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through the socket member disposed at the inner end of each rib illustrating one of said ends in elevation clamped within said member.

In this drawing which constitutes a part of the application, the numeral 1 indicates an upright tubular handle section having at its upper end an outstanding annular flange 2 to which the sectional ribs 3 are pivoted at their inner ends, said ribs being of vconstruction yet to be described and having the usual braces 4; which extend. inwardly from the intermediate portions thereof Vand are pivoted at their inner ends to an additional outstanding flange 5 carried by the upper end of a runner or slide 6 which surrounds the handle section 1 as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Normally, the outerends of the ribs 3 are folded outwardly upon the inner ends thereof, and the runner' 6 isforced toward the flange 2, thus causing the braces 4 to shift the several ribs Sinwardly into close proximity to said runner as clearly shown in Fig. 1. With the parts in this position, an additional handle section 7 having at its lower end a hand hold 8 and at its upper end an annular notch 9 is telescoped within the handle section l, this relation of the sections 1 and 7 being maintained by the friction existing therebetween, while the runner 6 is held against self adjustment on the handle section 1, not only by the frictional contact existing between these parts, but by that prevailing between the section 7 and a locking dog 10 which is carried by one end of an upright lever 11 fulcrumed between its ends to the runner 6 and rocked in such a manf ner by the spring 12 as to force the dog 10 into frictional contact with the handle section l, said dog being either extended through a slot inthe runner 6 or being disposed beneath the same as shown in the drawings. Y

It is to be observed that the handle section 1 is of considerably greater length than the runner 6, thus allowing the latter to have an appreciable amount of sliding movement thereon for so shifting the braces 4 as to contract the ribs 3 as shown in Fig. 1, or to project said braces as disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3, it being evident that the slide is shifted toward the flange 2 to produce the first named result, while that last described is accomplished by shifting said slide in the opposite direction (toward the unflanged end of the handle section 1) this end being provided with'a notch 13 adapted to receive therein the dog 10 when the runner 6 is shifted the necessary amount, thus retaining the runner in such position as to hold the ribs 8 extended. To effect this operation, the hand hold 8 is held in one hand, while the runner 6 is pulled toward said hold with the other hand, after which by proper manipulation of the hand hold, the additional handle section 7 may be withdrawn from the section 1 to such an extent as to allow the dog l0 to project into the notch 9, whereupon the entire handle^` will be held in active position. Thus it will be evident that the single dog 10 serves not only as means for preventing relative movement of the runner 6 and the extensible and contractible handle, but prevents contraction of the latter when in use. This two-fold function of the locking member in question is considered an extremely important feature of the invention.

Although the ribs 3 could he of any desired formation, they are preferably constructed of inner and outer fiat leaf springs 3a and 3b, respectivelyhinged together between their ends at 3 by hinges which are allowed to fold only in an outward direction. The inner ends of the inner' sections 3Z1 are of dove-tail formation as disclosed at 3d in Fig. G and are received in sheet metal socket members 3C closely contacting therewith to prevent removal thereof and having ears or the like which are pivoted to the flanges 2, this being a Very simple manner of attaching the ribs to the handle, yet being construction which is highly efficient in operation and which allowsrepairs to be easily made without removing all of the ribs.

The pivotal connections between the braces L and the inner sections 3a of the ribs 3 may be in any preferred design as may also the means at the outer ends of the outer sections 3" for the attachment of the usual covering thereto, such covering, however, being eliminated from the drawings for the sake of clearness.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be evident that although comparatively simple and inexpensive construction has been provided for the attainmentof the vdesired ends, the device will be eficient and durable and will possess a number of advantageous features.

I claim: a A folding umbrella frame comprising an upper handle section in the form of a one-piece tube having near its lower end an aperture opening into its interior, a lower handle section in the form of a one-piece rod insertedslidably in the lower end of the tube and having ahand hold below the same, the upper end of said rod having a circumferentially extending groove, a one- -piece tubular runner slidable on the upper handle section, ribs pivoted at their inner ends to the upper end of said upper section and having braces pivoted to the upper end of the runner, the latter being movable downwardly to raise said ribs, and a spring actuated runner and handle catch carried by Y per section, thereby locking the handle in extended position.

n testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THEODORE Gr. WARD. Witnesses:

LiLLni HARRELL, PEARL FIELDS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,V Washington, D. C. 

